Air deflector

ABSTRACT

Enclosed is information related to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements including modifiable air deflectors and more specifically to an improved air deflector capable of moving in relation to changing air patterns, ceiling heights and inhabitants preferences. More specifically the present disclosure relates to an improved air deflector apparatus that allows for the deflector to be adjusted for pivoting the deflectors but also to change the distance between the pivot point merely by sliding a damper guide along rails thus being further adaptable to the air pattern demands in a specific area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

Embodiments of the present invention relate to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/992,778, filed May 13, 2014, entitled “AIR DEFLECTOR”, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and which is a basis for a claim of priority.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements including modifiable air deflectors and more specifically to an improved air deflector capable of moving in relation to changing air patterns, ceiling heights and inhabitants preferences.

2. Related Art

In prior art models of air deflectors an axle is placed in a fixed position and the air deflector is only capable of rotating around the fixed axle. Thus the air deflector is merely opened to various degrees from a pivot on the fixed axle. The prior art is limited to allow for any true customization and therefore an HVAC technician is forced with the decision carry a variety of air deflectors with them for variable jobs, or to just place a non-optimal air deflector in many cases where some vents are at different locations than others on the same job.

In contrast, the present embodiments relate to an improved air deflector apparatus that allows for the deflector to be adjusted for pivoting the deflectors but also to change the distance between the pivot point merely by sliding a damper guide along rails thus being further adaptable to the air pattern demands in a specific area.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This invention is based on creating a uniform built air deflector system that can be adjusted in the field to highly variable air pattern conditions. The axle of the air deflector is moving along the spacers. Wherein in the prior art models the air deflector axle is fixed and the air deflector is only capable of rotating around the axle.

When air flows through a venting system to either heat or cool a home or business the air is still subject to the properties of resistance and temperature associated with the air molecules. For instance, when running hot air through a vent that is in a ceiling, because hot air naturally rises and cold air does not, if the warm air leaving a vent is not pushed far enough out of the vent, down to the floor area, where the cooler air (and inhabitants) are very little effect will be felt at the lower areas. In such cases the warmer air will just accumulate along the ceiling area and will have trouble mixing with the cooler air found further below the vent. In order for best air mixing results to occur the air leaving the vent must have enough push behind it to allow it to travel to the distance required for proper mixing. For a standard ceiling at about 8 to 10 feet, the push only needs to be about 5 to 8 feet for the inhabitants to feel the flow and to allow the mixing of the airs. However, for a higher ceiling 15 to 20 feet high the push needs to be about 10 to 18 feet to provide most efficient air mixing and best occupant relief.

When cooling a room there is a need to provide enough air flow to push the cooler circulating air to where the inhabitants are as well, and for the same reasons the amount of push and the height desired by the occupants can be highly variable based upon the individual desires of the inhabitants. Additionally, whereas some inhabitants will want to feel the air flow on them for relief (like air from a fan), others will not want the air flow to directly reach their level and possible blow their papers or materials around and will only want the surrounding ambient air to be modified about them in a non-stream like or flow type way.

The embodiments of the present invention encompass an air deflector that may be manufactured in such a way that it can be modified in the field to address the variable demands of the individual job site and its inhabitants preferences. An advantage to this is that, instead of having to carry a variety of deflectors in their truck and running the risk of having the wrong deflector for the job, the HVAC technician can carry the embodied highly modifiable air deflector system that can be modified at point of use to reflect the air push demands of the individual vent placement and to the inhabitants preferences.

The embodied air deflector system comprises side frames which hold spacers or guide rails which allow for a damper guide with a pin holder spot to hold a pin that extends from the pin holder portion of a damper guide through a slot on a air deflector/damper and ends in a companion pin holder spot in another damper guide placed between spacers on the opposite end of the air deflector. The air deflector is held in place on both sides by the pin which serves as an axle within the damper guide and allows for the angle of the air deflector to be adjusted along the axle and fixed in place, but further fully adjustable upon request. Additionally the damper guide is situated between the spacers in such a way that the damper guide can be slid along a plane such that the spacers serve as a type of rail for the damper guides to be allowed to adjust at varying positions along the plane. This enables the axle which serves as a pivot point for the air deflector to be modified in such a way that when two opposing damper guides are placed in close proximity along the rails the deflectors are naturally in very close proximity and if angled towards each other one can get a very narrow opening for the air to push through. In these cases much like a nozzle on a water hose the air passing through will throw to a further distance away from the vent then it would if the deflectors were angled away and/or the damper guides were placed further from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates of a side view of an embodied deflector system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a building schematic of an embodied deflector system when placed within the other components of an HVAC system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an embodied deflector system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodied deflector system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the embodied deflector system of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side perspective view of the embodied deflector system of FIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a building schematic view with an embodied deflector system in place in and connected into an HVAC system, additionally airflow currents are shown in relation to the air deflector system.

FIG. 8 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the deflectors are angled towards each other and thus the air is funneled through the narrower opening and forced to a further distance because of back pressure of air molecules behind.

FIG. 9 illustrates air flow through a deflector system where the deflector blades are angled towards the same side thus channeling the air to circulate in a specific direction.

FIG. 10 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the deflectors are wide open and very little resistance or channeling of the air is done and thus the amount of push from the back pressure of the air molecules is minimal.

FIG. 11 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the deflectors are angled towards each other and are thus in a more closed position, thus the air molecules have more back pressure and are thrown further once they escape through the deflector channel.

FIG. 12 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the one deflector is angled inward more versus another deflector is wide open, thus allowing some air flow to be deflected in a specific direction.

FIG. 13 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the deflectors are moved in close proximity to one another by moving both damper guides towards a center position along the guides.

FIG. 14 illustrates air flow through a deflector system wherein the deflectors are maintained at a similar angle to each other as shown in FIG. 13, but the deflectors are moved in distal proximity to one another by moving both damper guides towards the end position of each rail or spacer guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodied universal vent system/air deflector is capable of adapting to height of any placement by allowing the dampeners to slide within the vent so that they can determine the throw of the air from the vent. For a vent in an elevated ceiling there is a need to get the air from the vent a further distance in order to have a positive effect on the residents in the house.

For the purposes of the present invention the “throw” of the air from the vent is meant to mean the approximate distance the air molecules first travel upon exiting the vent chamber and starting to mix with the ambient air. It is most closely related to the spray distance of water out of a hose or sprinkler.

The throw of the air is affected by the pressure behind it when exiting the vent system much like the spray of water out of a hose nozzle. If the nozzle is very narrow the spray goes far, if the nozzle is not narrow the water merely runs out. The spray of water much like the throw of air can also be affected by how high the hose is turned on.

Thus, in order to minimize the need for a HVAC system to be turned on high to get the air where it needs to go, by using the right air deflector one can allow the HVAC system to remain constant while adjusting the amount of deflection to throw the air to the necessary distance for the job.

The vent system embodied can be installed at various heights and adjusted accordingly to the demands of the needs to throw the air to a certain distance.

The embodied air deflector system 1 as referenced in FIG. 1, comprises side frames 2 which hold spacers or guide rails 4 which allow for a damper guide 6 with a pin holder spot in the form of a pin placement hole 8 to hold a pin 10 that extends from the pin holder portion 8 of a damper guide 6 through a damper or deflector slot 14 on a air deflector/damper 12 and ends in a companion pin holder spot 8 in another damper guide 6 placed between spacers 4 on the opposite end of the air deflector 12. The air deflector 12 is held in place on both sides by the pin 10 which serves as an axle 11 within the damper guide 6 and allows for the angle of the air deflector 12 to be adjusted along the axle and fixed in place, but further fully adjustable upon request. Additionally the damper guide 6 is situated between the spacer rails 4 in such a way that the damper guide 8 can be slid along a plane such that the spacers 4 serve as a type of rail for the damper guides 8 to be allowed to adjust at varying positions along the plane. This enables the axle 11 which serves as a pivot point for the air deflector 12 to be modified in such a way that when two opposing damper guides 6 are placed in close proximity along the rails 4 the deflectors 12 are naturally in very close proximity and if angled towards each other one can get a very narrow opening through the damper blades 16 for the air to push through. In these cases much like a nozzle on a water hose the air passing through will throw to a further distance away from the vent then it would if the deflectors 12 were angled away and/or the damper guides were placed further from each other.

As referenced in FIG. 2 an embodied deflector system 1 is shown installed into an HVAC system 18 and attached to the ceiling infrastructure 20. Airflow is provided through the HVAC system 18 which exits out through an embodied deflector system 1 that is attached to ceiling structure 20. The embodied deflector systems are then able to adjust to the conditions of the room to which air flow is desired. For example if the ceiling infrastructure is high off the floor it is more likely that more throw from the deflector system 1 will be necessary to adequately mix the air at the top of the room with the air at the bottom of the room. In this case either the HVAC system would be turned up higher to provide more air pressure and thus more throw, or the deflector system can be narrowed to increase air pressure by creating a back flow resistance and funneling effect. The embodied deflector system shown is highly modifiable to the architecture and comfort demands of a room, and does not require the increase in energy required in turning up the HVAC system.

As referenced in FIGS. 3-6 an embodied deflector system 1 includes side frames 2 connected by spacer rails 4 which allow for the damper guides 6 to slide back and forth along the rails 4. The damper guides further have a pin placement hole 8 for placing a pin 10. This pin 10 within the pin placement hole 8 serves as an axle or pivot point 11 for the dampers 12 to be angled within the system. The pin 10 extends from the pin placement hole on the damper guide 6 through the damper 12 via a damper slot 14. The angle of the damper 12 and thus the placement of the damper blade 16 can be determined by pivoting the damper along the pivot point into the desired location. Additionally, the damper guides 6 can be places in close proximity or distally from each other along the rails 4 to further determine and modify the air flow. Whereas, FIG. 3 shows the above in a side perspective type view; FIG. 4 shows the above from a bottom perspective view; FIG. 5 shows the above from a side perspective view; and FIG. 6 shows another top side perspective view of the above wherein the deflectors 12 are shown in a closed position wherein the ends of the deflector blades 16 are in contact with one another.

FIG. 7 illustrates a building schematic view with an embodied deflector system 1 in place in and connected into an HVAC system 18, additionally airflow currents are shown in relation to the air deflector system 1.

FIGS. 8-14 illustrate the effect the damper angles and damper location on the rails 4 effect the air flow. For example in FIG. 8 the deflectors 12 are angled towards each other and thus the air is funneled through the narrower opening and forced to a further distance (throw) because of back pressure of air molecules behind.

FIG. 9 exemplifies how the air flow through a deflector system 1 where the deflectors 12 are angled towards the same direction and thus the deflectors 12 channel the air to circulate in a specific direction.

FIG. 10 illustrates how the air flows through a deflector system 1 wherein the deflectors 12 are wide open and there is very little resistance or channeling of the air and thus the amount of push from the back pressure of the air molecules is minimal.

In contrast, FIG. 11 illustrates how the air flows through a deflector system 1 wherein the deflectors 12 are angled towards each other and are thus in a more closed position, thus the air molecules have more back pressure and are thrown further once they escape through the deflector channel.

FIG. 12 exemplifies how air flows through a deflector system 1 wherein the one deflector 12 is angled inward more versus another deflector 12 is wide open, thus allowing some air flow to be deflected in a specific direction.

FIG. 13 shows how the air flows through a deflector system 1 wherein the deflectors 12 are placed at a slight angle and the deflectors 12 are moved in close proximity to one another by moving both damper guides 6 towards a center position along the guides 4. Whereas, FIG. 14 illustrates how air flows through a deflector system 1 wherein the deflectors 12 are maintained at a similar angle to each other as shown in FIG. 13, but the deflectors 12 are moved in distal proximity to one another by moving both damper guides towards the end position of each rail or spacer guide 4. Thus by maintaining the deflector angle but changing the position of the deflector 12 on the guide the air flow is significantly changed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air deflector system comprising: side frames connected by spacer rails wherein the spacer rails provide a surface for damper guides to slide back and forth along the rails; wherein the damper guides further have a pin placement hole for placing a pin; wherein the pin extends from the pin placement hole on the damper guide through a damper or deflector via a damper slot; wherein the pin within the pin placement hole serves as an axle or pivot point for dampers to be angled within the air deflector system; wherein the damper further includes a damper blade portion for deflecting or channeling air flow; and wherein the angle of the damper and thus the placement of the damper blade can be determined by pivoting the damper along the pivot point into the desired location.
 2. The air deflector system according to claim 1 wherein the air flow can be modified by pivoting the angle of the deflector such that the angle blade of each deflector or in closer or distal proximity to one another.
 3. The air deflector system according to claim 1 wherein the air flow through the system can be modified by sliding the damper guides in closer or further proximity to one another along the rails.
 4. The air deflector system according to claim 3 wherein the air flow through the system can be further modified by sliding the damper guides in closer or further proximity to one another along the rails. 